Underdog McCullough after more than a paycheck in DREAM.17 bout with Aoki

http://mmajunkie.comIt took all of about two seconds for Rob McCullough (19-7 MMA, 0-0 DREAM) to agree to fight Shinya Aoki (28-5 MMA, 12-2 DREAM).

Is he being set up as cannon fodder for the DREAM champion? Probably. You’d be hard pressed to find a clearer style versus style matchup on paper, or one that favors Aoki if the action hits the mat.

McCullough can grapple, but he’s a striker at heart. So why do it?

Sure, it’s a payday. But there are plenty of those on the regional circuit, where an ex-champion can make a decent living and skirt the bigger challenges.

McCullough probably would have given up a long time ago with that mindset.

“If you’re a competitor, and that’s why you get into fighting, you want to do this because you want to be the best,” he told MMAjunkie.com Radio (www.mmajunkie.com) about his upcoming fight with Aoki, which takes place at “DREAM.17: World Bantamweight GP.”

“It’s not a matter of just going up against a bunch of guys who say, ‘Oh yeah, I fight. I’m doing it for the weekend.’ You want to fight the best of the best. It’s not about fighting guys here and there. It’s about becoming the best, striving to be the best, and fighting the best so you can leave a legacy.”

“DREAM.17: World Bantamweight GP” is set for Sept. 24 at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. Although no broadcast plans have been announced, negotiations are underway between DREAM and U.S. television partner HDNet for a possible live or tape-delayed broadcast.

There’s few sports where fortune changes faster than MMA, and the fight is a colossal opportunity for the former WEC champ McCullough. He’s struggled to regain the momentum of his early career in the now-shuttered promotion, and despite Aoki’s somewhat faded star, it’s a win that could lead to bigger bookings.

“You smash that guy, and it gives you some relevancy in the top 10, so I’m just going to get in there and mix it up with this guy,” he said. “[Expletive], it’s a win-win no matter what.”

And though he could hardly be expected to find a training partner with Aoki’s skill on the mat, getting a long and lanky grappler to don grappling pants and chase him around the ring wasn’t as trying as he expected.

“Honestly, it wasn’t too bad because I’ve got a great camp of guys, and they’re pretty good with mixing in that kind of stuff,” he said. “Having a guy do rubber guard stuff and footlocks, it’s been an interesting camp, to say the least.”

There’s no doubt what McCullough plans to do, though he wouldn’t say whether he planned to simply run from Aoki or fight his way out of sticky situations. Whatever the strategy, it will all be in support of the striking combinations he’s used to concuss opponents far less skilled in standup.

McCullough still gives the Japanese fighter props, though. You can’t argue with a guy who’s mangled limbs inside the ring, and will likely to the same to him.

“I’m honored to fight the guy,” McCullough said. “The guy’s a legend, and I can’t wait to get in there and punch him in the face.”

If he manages to win and put a deep notch in his belt, all the better. But McCullough isn’t looking past his current challenge. His been doing this for too long to make that mistake.

He wouldn’t be a true fighter if he didn’t take his job seriously.

“At this point, I’m just glad I can pay the bills and feed my family with getting in there and mixing it up,” McCullough said. “To wake up in the morning and go to the gym and do something I love to do … it’s a blessing.”

MMAjunkie.com Radio broadcasts Monday-Friday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) live from the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino’s Race & Sports Book. The show is hosted by Gorgeous George, MMAjunkie.com lead staff reporter John Morgan and producer Goze. For more information or to download past episodes, go to www.mmajunkie.com/radio.

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